No. 9 South Carolina Hosts No. 5 Texas A&M

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 9 South Carolina is set for its home opener against No. 5 Texas A&M on Friday at 10 a.m. at One Wood Farm. The Gamecocks look to take down the Aggies in the first SEC meet of the season for both teams.
 
“We are excited to be hosting our one and only fall meet on Friday. I’m hoping we’ll have some fans out even though it is a Friday morning meet,” said head coach Boo Major. “Texas A&M always comes prepared, and we aren’t expecting anything less. Our team is focused and looking forward to a great day of heated competition. The weather should be great so we encourage anyone that can to come on out and support the Gamecocks!”
 
Gamecock Notables

• In the opening weekend of the season, the Gamecocks notched three M.O.P. honors. 
• Caroline Bald was named M.O.P. for her performance on the flat against UC Davis, topping her personal best score from the previous season.
• In the meet against No. 6 TCU, South Carolina swept jumping seat M.O.P. awards with Nina Columbia earning the honor in fences and Trinity Hammerschmidt earning the honor on the flat.
• The Gamecocks scored a season high of six total points in jumping seat in the meet against No. 6 TCU.
• In the meet against No. 7 Fresno State, South Carolina scored five points in the Western discipline, the most points awarded to the Gamecocks in that discipline this season. 

 
Scouting the Aggies

• Texas A&M is currently 1-1 with an 11-8 win over South Dakota State and a recent 12-7 loss to No. 8 Baylor.
• The Aggies have notched three M.O.P. honors this season, including a reining M.O.P. that scored a program record high of 78.
• Both of Texas A&M’s matches this season were on the road.
• The 49 women on the Aggies roster are led by head coach Tana McKay who is in her 23rd season.

 
The Texas A&M Series

• South Carolina is 6-6 all time against Texas A&M at home.
• In the most recent competition, the Gamecocks heartbreakingly fell in a 9-10 decision, but then-freshman Emma Lane earned her second M.O.P. honor of the season in the loss.
• South Carolina’s largest margin of victory over Texas A&M came in 2009 in a 13-7 decision at One Wood Farm.
• The Gamecocks last defeated the Aggies at home in a 10-10 (1421.5-1358) decision in February of 2020.